A novel compound, viz. zinc nicotinate monohydrate, was synthesized by the method of room temperature solid phase synthesis. The techniques of FT-IR chemical and elemental analyses and X-ray powder diffraction were applied to characterise the structure and composition of the complex. In accordance with Hess' law, a thermochemical cycle was designed and the enthalpy change of the solid phase reaction of nicotinic acid with hydrated zinc acetate was determined to be Delta H-r(m)o = (46.71 +/-0.21) kJ . mol(-1) by use of an isoperibol solution-reaction calorimeter. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the title complex Zn(NiC)(2) . H2O(s) was calculated as -(1062.3 +/- 2.0) kJ . mol(-1) by use of the enthalpies of dissolution and other auxiliary thermodynamic data. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.